Waferer



Sept. 10, 1957 D. E. JONES ET AL WAFERER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 19 54 INVENTOR} MZfl/WZ.

Sept. 10, 1957 D. E. JONES ETAL WAFERER Filed Sept. 21, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JM MMW Sept. 10, 1957 D. E. JONES ETAL WAFERER Filed Sept. 21, 1954 4 Sheen-Sheet 3 Sept. 10, 1957 o. E. JONES ET AL WAFERER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 21, 1954 I INVENTORS MZJMZ' United States atent @fhce WAFERER Dwight E. Jones, Pittsfield, Mass, and Robert D. Lambert, Sand Point, Idaho, assignors to E. D. Jones 8.; Sons Company, Pittstield, Mass, a corporation Application September 21, 1954, Serial No. 457,448

14 Claims. (Cl. 144-472) This invention relates to apparatus for cutting or severing waters from pieces of wood and may be called a waferizer.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to apparatus for cutting relatively thin wafers, so-called, from pieces of wood in such a manner that they are uniform in dimensions particularly as to thickness so as to be adapted for various purposes.

As one important feature of the invention, wafers produced by the novel apparatus are such as to be particularly adapted for the manufacture of what is known as hard board which resembles ply wood. In such manufacture, the wafers are treated or impregnated with resinous material or the like, arranged in the desired manner, and subjected to heat and pressure to provide a composite sheet-like body. For this purpose, depending upon the desired characteristics of the end product, the wafers may have a thickness from about .005" to .065" and, as the novel features of the apparatus are adapted to provide wafers of predetermined uniform thickness and other characteristics, the hard board produced thereby may have the desired predetermined characteristics.

In some cases, it may be desired that the wafers near the surface of the hard board he of different thickness than those intermediate the surfaces and same is possible by adjustment of the apparatus.

The wafers have an important use in the pulp and paper industry Where it is well known to cut chips from wood for cooking and chemical treatment. The cut chips are not satisfactory for several reasons among which are the following: the chips are of various dimensions, thicknesses and shapes and at best are of considerable thickness so that the time cycle of treatment thereof depends on the larger chips or those having the greatest bulk. Considerable of the chip forming cuts if not all are across or opposed to the grain of the Wood so as to result in mash and injury to the wood fibers.

Attempts have been made to provide more uniform chips from boards which are square edged but square edged material is expensive so as to increase the cost of the stock for paper and pulp manufacture.

According to this invention, the apparatus is constructed and arranged to operate on wood which is in slab form as distinguished from square edged wood. Slab wood is practically waste wood as far as its use as lumber is concerned, but the novel apparatus hereof is adapted to produce wafers from slab wood for use in hard board, pulp and paper manufacture which are equal, if not superior to, wood pieces produced from square edged wood and at a much less cost.

In a general way, according to the invention, slabs are transported or fed into the apparatus by means which act along the long edges of the slabs separately so'that one slab is not pushed or fed by another. In the apparatus, each separate slab is positively advanced across a support and against a rotating cutting cylinder while roll up.

2 being held on and pressed against the support to obtain control of the slab and accuracy in the cutting operation.

The cutting cylinder is provided with circumferentially spaced rows of cutting edges arranged longitudinally of the cylinder. In the form of the invention to be described, the said cutting edges are formed by sharpened blades with the blades of the rows thereof arranged to provide spaces therebetween. The blades of one row thereof are staggered longitudinally of the cylinder relative to the blades of adjacent rows whereby the blades of one row and circumferentially of the cylinder are disposed between blades of adjacent rows of blades. In this way, as the cylinder rotates, the blades of one row of longitudinally spaced blades cut wafers from the slab or slabs and the next succeeding row of spaced blades cut wafers between those previously cut.

The cylinder may be rotated at high speed thereby to obtain high production. By adjustment of the blades and by providing predetermined relative speeds of the cylinder and of the pushers, wafers of uniform dimensions and thickness are produced which are to be distinguished from chips of irregular shapes and dimensions.

The cylinder is so constructed and arranged and the slabs are fed thereto in such a manner that the wafers are cut in parallelism with the grain of the slab and not in opposition thereto with the result that the wafers are not broken or bruised thereby preserving the fibers.

It may be said that wafers are sliced from the wood and, in some cases, they may have a tendency to curl or The cylinder is provided with cavities adjacent the cutting edges thereof which may receive such wafers as they curl with the grain of the wood being parallel to the axis of the curl so that the wafers are not broken nor bruised.

All of the above objects, we accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangements of parts thereof, as will fully appear by a perusal of the description below and by various specific features which will be hereinafter set forth.

To the above cited and other ends and with the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of our invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, our invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination'and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of apparatus embodying the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section of slab wood to illustrate how wafers are cut therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Pig. 1; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the apparatus on line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing supporting means for the wood slabs and the feeding means;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View through a portion of the cutting cylinder; and

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the portion of the cut- The left-hand end of the structure, as shown in Fig. 1,

will be called the forward end and the opposite right 3 hand end will be called the rear end. There may be transverse members Side walls, such as 19, have lower edges secured to the supporting structure, extend upwardly vertically therefrom in transverse spaced relation, and run fore and aft ofthe structure.

End members 12, secured to the supporting structure, have bearing means 14 secured thereto which rotatably receive end shafts 16 of a cutting cylinder 13 which will be more fully hereinafter described.

A bed plate is formed by spaced apart side members 20 extending vertically upwardly from a transverse shaft 22 which is swingable in brackets 24 of the supporting structure. A transverse deflecting plate 26 extends between the arms 20 and an upper transverse bar 23 is secured to said arms. A transverse nose 3% is carried by the forward edge of the bar 28 which will preferably be formed from aluminum or some relatively soft material so as to avoid injury to the cutting edges of the cylinder 18 if contacted therewith. Adjusting bolts 27 in engagement with parts 29 and 31 of the frame abut the bed plate and hold it in adjusted position, see Figs. 1, and 6. in one way, the upper surface of the bed plate is disposed slightly below and at a slight angle relative to a horizontal plane extending through the axis of rotation of the cylinder so that there is a slight shearing action of the blades of the cylinder when the edges of said blades are parallel with the axis of the cylinder.

A transverse plate 32 extends between the side walls and its forward edge overlies the bed plate and curves downwardly, as shown in Fig. 6. Said plate 32 cooperates with the nose to provide means for supporting pieces of wood, such as slabs, which are pushed to the cylinder for action of the cutting edges thereof.

Means for feeding pieces of wood slab consist of 3 transversely spaced endless chains 34 extending around drive sprockets 36 fixed to a feed shaft 38. The lower ends of the chains extend around idler sprockets, not shown, in a manner well known. .The upper runs of said chains extend along supports 40 and carry lugs such as 42. The lugs 42 are spaced longitudinally of the chains in such a manner that the lugs may engage rear edges of wood slabs so that the chains feed the slabs upwardly onto the supporting means. The slabs are separately fed .as distinguishedfrorn feeding one piece by another. The slabs are fed to the supporting structure and from there they are fed to the cutting cylinder by ushers associated with a carriage as will be described.

A carriage has transversely spaced side portions 46 and a rear top plate 48 suitably secured together. At forward and rear ends of the carriage and on each side thereof, there are rolls 50 rotatable in brackets 52 on horizontal axes and other rolls 54 rotatable on brackets 56 on vertical axes. The rolls 50 roll along the lower leg 58 of tracks and the rolls 54 roll along and against the upper legs 59 of said tracks 60 which are fixed to the side walls 10. The carriage is slid-able or rollable from the rearward non-pushing position shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to the left and forward pushing direction and returns to the position shown.

A transverse cam shaft 62 is suitably journalled in the supporting structure for rotation on a horizontal axis. Carriage cams 64 fixed to said shaft outside the walls 10 have cam grooves on inner faces thereof. Cam rolls 66 are journalled on the rearmost brackets 52 of the carriage and are engaged in the cam grooves of the cams. The cam grooves are formed in the well known manner to move the carriage forwardly and inwardly to the leftand return to the position shown.

A plurality of pushers 68 which are spaced apart transversely and between the side walls 10 have outer rear ends welded to or otherwise secured to a transverse shaft 70. Said shaft 70 is journalled in bearings such as 72 which are secured to brackets 74 depending from the carriage inside the walls 10. The pushers 68 are secured 4 together by a transverse strut 68' so as to be swingable simultaneously.

Forward ends of the pushers 63 are provided with pads '76 which may be of relatively soft metal or the like to safeguard against injury to the cutting edges of the cylinder should there be contact therewith.

As previously stated, wood slabs are fed or transported separately up onto the plate 32. As the carriage moves to the left in pushing direction, the forward ends of the pushers will engage the rear edge of the slab on plate 32- and push it towards the cylinder.

When the carriage has reached its innermost position, the pushcrs 68 are swung upwardly and remain in upper position while the carriage moves in non-pushing direction rearwardly. As the carriage approaches its rear position, the pushers swing downwardly so that the forward pushing ends thereof are disposed rearwardly of and behind the rear edges of slab wood on the plate 32 for the next forward pushing movement.

The pushers are swung upwardly by means of the following. Pusher elevating arms 74' extend fore and aft of the apparatus and have outer rear ends pivoted at 76 to brackets such as 78 secured to the side walls 10, see Fig. 4. Inner ends of said arms carry inwardly extending ledges 8t) and rolls 82 journalled on extensions 84 of the outermost pushers 68 are rollable therealong.

Lifter earns 86 are fixed to the shaft 62 and rolls 88 are journalled on members 90 which extend outwardly and downwardly from arms 74 so as to straddle the cams 64. The rolls 88 rest on the edges of the lifter earns 86. In the operation of the apparatus, the pushers in lower position and in forward pushing direction of the carriage push separate pieces of slab wood towards the cutting cylinder. In rearward movement of the carriage the inner forward ends of the pushers are lifted by upward movement of the lifters 74 so as to pass over wood on the supporting means and finally the forward ends of the pushers are lowered to lie rearwardly of wood on the plate 32.

A plurality of hold-downs 92 have outer rear ends journalled on a transverse shaft 96' extending between the side walls 10. Inner forward ends 96 of the holddowns are arranged to rest on wood slabs while being pushed across the supporting means to prevent unwanted movements of slabs. Said hold-downs may be made to have any desired weight.

The hold-downs and pushers may have any relative arrangement desired and there may be any desired number of either in order to obtain the results.

A buffer 98 which may be of any cushioning material, such as rubber or the like, is carried by a transverse member 100 that is supported at opposite ends by members 102 fixed to the side walls 10. The buffer serves to cushion the independently swingable hold-downs as wood is pushed from beneath forward ends thereof.

The cutting cylinder will now be described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8.

An elongated cylinder body is provided and has the shaft parts 16 at opposite ends as previously described. Elongated blade holders 112 extend longitudinally of the body 110 and are secured in circumferentially spaced relation thereto by screws or bolts 114. Said holders have ledges 116 providing longitudinal spaces between said ledges and said body 110 extending forwardly in the direction of rotation of the cylinder.

Inner sides 118 of the ledges are formed to support blades 120 which have sharpened outer cutting edges, as shown.

Elongated clamps 122 are disposed between the holders 112 and outer sides thereof abut the blades 120. Inner sides 124 of the clamps are spaced from adjacent portions of the holders 112 and clamp screws 126 in threaded engagement with the clamps abut the said inner portions of the holders so that, by turning the screws 126 in one direction, the clamps 122 are urged radially outwardly to clamp the blades against the undersides of the ledges 116.

Adjusting screws 128 in threaded engagement with the holders 112 are accessible through openings 130 in the holders. The heads of the screws 128 .abut inner rear edges of the blades 1% as shown and function for adjustment of the cutting edges of the blades relative to the outer surface of the holders.

Outer surfaces of the holders 112 are curved so that they cooperate to form a cylindrical surface which is concentric with the axis of rotation thereof of the cutting cylinder.

In the form of the invention shown, the blades and cutting edges are arranged in circumferentially spaced rows with the cutting edges spaced longitudinally of the rows thereof. In the form shown, the blades of one row are staggered relative to those of adjacent rows so that, circumferentially, the blades of a row are disposed between the blades of adjacent rows.

The blades may be of any desired length or of various lengths if desired.

Outer surfaces of the holders 112 being curved as aforesaid, they are provided with longitudinally spaced cavities 132. v

The cavities have bottoms 134 which incline inwardly from a point between opposite longitudinal sides of the holders, as shown in Fig. 7. The cavities provide clearance spaces for wafers as they are cut from the wood so that the wafers are instantly free and are uninjured and may curl or roll should they so tend without danger of breakage by being confined.

As wood is pushed against the rotating cylinder by the pushers, the edges of one row of blades cut longitudinally spaced wafers from the wood and the next row of edges cut other spaced wafers. As illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3, wafers W have been cut from the slab S by one row of spaced cutting edges. Other wafers will be cut from the slab on the dotted lines W by the succeeding row of spaced cutting edges.

The wafers are of predetermined length and, by adjusting the blades and selecting the speed of rotation of the cylinder and rate of movement of the pushers, a predetermined production of wafers of the desired uniform thick ness may be obtained.

The shaft 62 may be driven by a motor 15% of the variable speed type or a speed changing device 152 may be used therewith, see Fig. 4. The cylinder 18 may be driven by a motor 154, the speed of which may be variable. Sprockets 156 and 158 fixed to shafts 38 and 62 and a connecting chain 16% provide means for rotating the said shaft 38 and driving the slab feeding chains. The shafts and cylinder will be driven at such speeds and in proper timed relation to produce wafers of the characteristics desired.

A cover 170 is hinged at 172 to a transverse member 147 to enclose the outer upper part of the cylinder 18 but may be swung upwardly for access to the cylinder.

It will be observed that pieces of slab wood are separately fed to supporting means therefor and that pushers engage the slabs separately and advance them for the action of the cutting cylinder.

That is, a single piece of wood is moved against the cylinder by certain pushers 68 until the wood piece is entirely consumed by the cylinder knives whereupon the pushers elevate, retract and lower into pushing position again to engage and advance a successive wood piece inwardly and away from the feed chains. Each successive wood piece is entirely consumed by the knives since the pushers are arranged to push the entire piece to the cylinder. The pushers do not stop short of the cylinder so as to leave a remaining portion of Wood to be advanced by a succeeding wood piece. The remaining wood piece in that case would be shattered as it would be out of control.

The pushers 68 are secured to shaft 70 which is swingable in bearings 72 of the carriage Which is moved for: ward in slab pushing direction and retracted by cams 64. The pushers 68 are raised and lowered by pusher elevating arms 74 which are operated by cams 86.

There are several hold-downs 2 forward inner ends 96 of which rest on the pieces of wood as they are advanced to the cylinder by the pushers. The hold-downs are arranged to swing up and down so the inner ends thereof follow such uneven contours of the upper sides of the wood pieces as there may be and press on or weight down the pieces. In this way, the hold-down cooperate with the pushers in the control and advancement of an entire wood piece to the cylinder.

It has been pointed out that the bed plate is disposed slightly below the horizontal plane of the axis of rotation of the cylinder and at a slight angle orinclination relative to said plane. In another way, the bed plate may be paralell with a horizontal plane through the axis of the cylinder with the edges of the blades of the cylinder extending generally longitudinally thereof but inclined or angularly relative to the plane of the cylinder axis.

As pointed out, the cylinder is provided with cavities adjacent and forwardly of the blades thereof to serve as clearance spaces for wafers as they are cut. The cylinder has a surface which is concentric with the axis of rotation and there are longitudinally spaced portions of the cylindrical surface between the cavities against which wood pieces are urged, all to the end that wood is not fed into the cylinder and shattered by the knives rather than being cut into clean uniform wafers of predetermined thickness.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall Within the meaning .and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for cutting wafers from pieces of wood slab comprising in combination, a support structure, a cylinder rotatable relative thereto on a horizontal axis and having circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending sharp edge blades, slab supporting means horizontally disposed for slidably supporting pieces of slab along said cylinder, a carriage slidable relative to said support structure in forward pushing and rearward non-pushing strokes towards and away from said cylinder, and means for operating said carriage, a plurality of pushers simultaneously swin able on said carriage between lower pushing position rearward-1y of slabs on said slab supporting means and upper non-pushing position above the same, means for swinging said pushers between said positions arranged .toswing the pushers upwardly as the carriage reaches the end of its forward stroke and lower the pushers as the carriage reaches the end of its rearward stroke, separate hold-downs for bearing on slabs on said supporting means, and means for engaging successively separate pieces of slab and feeding them to said slab supporting means.

2. Apparatus for cutting wafers from pieces of wood slab set forth in claim 1 wherein said pushers are relatively spaced elongated secured together members having inner forward slab engaging ends and outer rear ends pivotally mounted on said carriage at a point outwardly away from said cylinder.

3. Apparatus for cutting wafers from pieces of wood slab set forth in claim 1 wherein said hold-downs include elongated members having inner forward slab engaging ends and outer, rear ends independently swingable relative to said support structure at points outwardly away from said cylinder.

4. Apparatus for cutting waters from pieces of wood slab set forth in claim 1 wherein said pushers are relatively spaced longitudinally of said cylinder.

5. Apparatus for cutting wafers from pieces of wood slab set forth in claim 1 wherein said hold-downs are relatively spaced longitudinally of said cylinder.

6. Apparatus for cutting wafers from pieces of wood slab set forth in claim 1 wherein said pushers and hold downs are intermingled in a relatively spaced arrangement.

7. Apparatus for cutting wafers'from pieces of wood slabset forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding means includesendless chains extending around spaced apart drive sprockets and having upper runs provided with longitudinally spaced slab engaging lugs.

8. A rotable cutting cylinder comprising in combination, an elongated body, a plurality of elongated blade holders secured to said body in circumferentially spaced relation and having longitudinal outer ledge portions for supporting rows of blades against outward radial movement disposed in planes non-radial and tangential relative to the axis of rotation of the body, rows of longitudinally spaced fiat blades inwardly of said ledges having sharpened edges extending slightly beyond outer longitudinal edges of said ledges, elongated clamps between adjacent holders having outer portions engaging inner sides of said blades, and jack screws in engagement with inner portions of the clamps abutting inner portions of said holders adjacent thereto urging said clamps against said blades and the blades against said ledges.

9. A rotatable cutting cylinder comprising in combination, an elongated cylindrical body, a plurality of elongated holders extending longitudinally of said body and secured thereto in eircurnferentially spaced relation, said holders having outer longitudinal ledges spaced from said body providing longitudinal spaces between said ledges and body, rows of flat blades in said spaces against inner sides of said ledges having outer sharpened edges adjacent longitudinal edges of said ledges, elongated clamps in said spaces against inner sides of said blades, clamp screws between said clamps and holders urging said clamps toward said ledges for clamping said blades to said ledges by said clamps, and outer longitudinal sides of said holders being formed concentric relative to the axis of rotation of said body.

10. A rotatable cutting cylinder comprising in combination, an elongated cylindrical body, a plurality of elongated holders extending longitudinally of said body and secured thereto in circumferentially spaced relation, said holders having outer longitudinal ledges spaced from said body providing longitudinal spaces between said ledges and body, rows of fiat blades in said spaces ngainst inner sides of said ledges having outer sharpened edges adjacent longitudinal edges of said ledges, elongated clampsin said spaces against inner sides of said blades, clamp screws between said clamps and holders urging said clamps toward said ledges for clamping said blades to said ledges by said clamps, and adjusting screws between said holders and rear nnsharpened edges of said blades holding said blades against movement inwardly of the ledges of the holders.

11. A rotatable cutting cylinder comprising in combination, an elongated body adapted for rotation in a cutting direction, a plurality of elongated blade holders spaced circumferentially and extending longitudinally of said Iii) body and secured thereto, said holders having longitudinal ledge portions provided with outer longitudinal edges extending forwardly in the direction of rotation of said body, said ledge portions having outer transverse curved surface portions extending from said leading edges in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of said body forming portions of a cylindrical surface for said body, said ledge portions being provided with inner longitudinal blade surfaces extending from the edges thereof in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of said body, cutting blades disposed on said blade surfaces having sharpened edges adjacent the leading edges of said ledge portions, elongated clamp members between adjacent longitudinal sides of said holders having outer portions against said blades, inner portions of said holders and clamp members arranged to provide spaces therebetween, clamp screws between said inner portions of said holders and clamp members acting to cause said clamp members to clamp said blades against said blade surfaces, and said holders on outer surfaces thereof provided with cavities relatively spaced longitudinally thereof extending inwardly thereof in opposition to the direction of rotation of said body and from points spaced forwardly of said leading edges.

12. A rotating cutting cylinder set forth in claim 11 wherein said blades are relatively spaced in rows along the blade holders.

13. A rotating cutting cylinder set forthin claim 11 wherein said blades are relatively spaced in rows along the blade holders and the blades of one row are staggered longitudinally relative to the blades of an adjacent row.

14. Apparatus for cutting waters from pieces of wood slab comprising in combination, a support structure, a cylinder rotatable relative thereto on a horizontal axis and having circumferentially spaced longitudinally ex tending sharp edge blades, slab supporting means horizontally disposed for slidably supporting pieces of slab along said cylinder, a carriage slidable relative to said support structure in forward pushing and rearward nonpushing strokes towards and away from said cylinder, and means for operating said carriage, a plurality of pushers simultaneously swingable on said carriage between lower pushing position rearwardly of slabs on said slab supporting means and upper non-pushing position above the same, means for swinging said pushers between said positions arranged to swing the pushers upwardly as the carriage reaches the end of its forward stroke and lower the pushers as the carriage reaches the end of its rearward stroke, and separate hold-downs for bearing on slabs on said supporting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 375,812 Harris Jan. 3, 1888 542,075 Brown July 2, 1895 874,871 Shimer Dec. 24, 1907 1,204,829 Taylor Nov. 14, 1916 1,243,734 Haber Oct. 23, 1917 1,428,036 Johnson Sept. 5, 1922 2,525,189 Thomas Oct. 10, 1950 2,598,933 Nevin June 3, 1952 2,652,077 Alexander Sept. 15, 1953 2,702,059- Ballantine Feb. 15, 1955 

